Clownin' Around

Today, was an awesome day at my elementary school.  I never thought I would enjoy a Circus theme, but I loved it!  During a typical session, I begin with hello, warm-up, and song of the month. After which, follows the circus fun!

Wimoweh (The Lion Sleeps Tonight) Laurie Berkner
goal: to improve impulse control
Materials: sand blocks (or any instrument of choice)
What to do:  The point of this activity is for the students to WAIT!  So, begin with passing out the instrument and demonstrating how to play.  I always make up some random ditty in my head to encourage the students to play.  Then "1, 2, 3 STOP"  The instruments then have to be placed on the floor.  The students wait until they are instructed to pick the sand blocks up. So on and so forth.  Next add the music!
The song begins with the lion sleeping, so have the students "sleep."  When the "wimoweh" part begins, pick up the sand blocks and play, play, play! When the verses start, "sleepy lions".

Parachute: Song: The man on the flying trapeze
goal: to improve fine motor skills
Parachutes are a great way to get the kids moving but also to give them some sensory input. Put a bean bag, balloon, or doll in the parachute and encourage the students to move the parachute up and down throwing the prop in the air!

Tightrope: Song: Entrance of the Gladiators
You'll need a balance beam ( I borrowed mine from the Adaptive PE teacher)
Turn the music on!  Allow each kiddo to walk across the beam, two times (down and back)
This is actually something they do in Special Olympics.

Laughter: Song: Everybody Laughs in the Same Language
Goal: to improve speech sounds
You'll need a microphone (real or toy)
This activity is very simple!  Turn the music on and allow each students to make the "Ha, He, or Ho" sound from the song....
as an added encouragement, try this

Happy Singing! God bless!

Piggyback: Here Comes the Sun

Sorry, I got a little tongue tied at one point!  I am actually very sleepy! I can't imagine why an intern would be sleepy on a saturday night! haha! If anyone would like to "borrow" my piggy back song, feel free.  Email me for the lead sheet, if needed! God bless

Winter Sports Ideas

The elementary school's theme for today was "winter sports", however, I did my own thing!  ;)
My supervisor and I chatted afterwards, because what in the world do you do for winter sports music activities?????

Ice Skating
You'll need some paper plates- 2 for each kiddo
and Some skating music

Put the kids feet on the plates and everyone has to slide around the carpet, or marked area, as if "skating"
That sounds like what my sister and I used to do as little kids as we watched the Olympics!


Balance Beam
You'll need a rope or an actual balance beam.  I have noticed some special need classes have these in their classrooms!

Again, just find a catchy tune and every student gets an opportunity to walk across the balance beam.

The Torch


Dress up a flash light and give the students a chance to carry the torch.  This could be a great way to transition from one activity to another.  If you use an activity board, students could carry the "torch" and activity slip and place it in the "all done" box.

These are a few, very simple ideas that you can adapt for your sessions.  Hope you enjoy!

God bless!

School what?

Ok, so I realize I have said this before, but the purpose of this blog is to share activities and my thoughts and feelings during my internship. This entry is a thoughts and feelings blog...

Most of you who know me and follow my blog via facebook know that for the past week I have been out of class due to hazardous weather conditions.  First, I would like to say thanks to God for the snow break!  It was fantastic, however, I did not accomplish anything!  At the same time, it was frustrating because the school system called of classes on a day-by-day basis.  That stunk big time!  I sat around all week long.  Finally, Friday's classes were canceled and I left GA far behind and went to see NC snow.

I am really not looking forward to tomorrow.  I feel that I will be short an activity, but at this point I'm clearly not that worried about it.   There is an art to pulling activities out of your butt.  I'm becoming quite the expert!  I always plan accordingly, however, you will have times when you have to think on your feet.  That's why it is good to have an ipod with lots of music handy!

I'm very tired, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  This internship soaks up my time.  When I have a free minute, I just want to sit and not think of anything, ever again!  But, that's why my relationship with my Savior isn't what it should be.  So, it's a little late, but my New Year's Resolution is to spend time with God, more time.  He shouldn't be taken for granted.  I love you God!

Waiting for Snow

One of the main reasons I adore working with Elementary aged kids is because of the themes the teachers use.  It is always so much fun for me to find music/activities that go along with their classroom activities.  The theme for the week was "WINTER" and appropriately so.

The song above is called "Waiting for Snow" by John McCutcheon.  (He actually has a set of Season recordings).  With this song, I asked my students to lie down on the floor.  I dimmed the lights and started the music.  Relaxation time!  I have a white canopy scarf/sheet and with the assistance of the teachers, we waved the scarf up and down over their bodies and faces.  Their smiles were priceless.  Some people feel that relaxation is not appropriate for such young kiddos, but when you see how they instantly snap in to being relaxed you find that is such a false statement.  Their breathing calms and they become almost trance-like.  However, some classes found it so stimulating.  That isn't always bad, but when they grab at the "snow blanket" it does present a problem.

For the next activity, all you need are cotton balls, parachute, and a recording of "Sleigh Ride" or "Let it Snow".  The students absolutely loved this activity.  It turned in to a snow ball fight, more or less.  It was so incredible.  Just seeing these kids laugh and have fun makes my day.   This activity was a great way to help the kids with impulse control.  They found that if they shook the parachute too hard and too fast the cotton balls flew out of the parachute.  That is why it turned in to a snow ball fight.  However, by the end of the activity the kids held it together and kept the cotton balls in the parachute!

What to do with the older kids?  I stuck with a winter theme and used white loufas (sp?).  We practiced keeping the beat to the song by passing the "snow ball" on the beat.  I used "Sleigh Ride" for this group as well.  By the end of the activity there were 3 "snowballs" going at the same time, focusing their attention.  

For an academic activity, I used the song "Let it Snow".  I wrote the sentences on long strips of poster board.  Each sentence was broken in half.  After we listened to the song, each student read their sentence strip.  The goal was for each student to find the missing half of their sentence.  This worked on reading but it really hits on the socialization domain as well.

Thank you Drake and Rihanna.  I'm sure you are now wondering what I'm talking about?  I used "What's your name?"  I sang "Hey nah nah What's your name" etc, etc as I kept the beat on a paddle drum.  After I finished the chorus, I demonstrated playing the rhythm (syllables) of my name.  We sang the chorus each time.  Every student had the opportunity to play their name rhythm and their peer's name rhythms as well.  =)

This week has been great taking over my classes.  My really bad bad student did an incredible job today.  I found that he needs positive feedback/ complimenting constantly.  I was so happy.  Music Therapy makes me happy.

New Year's Resolutions

I have 3 months left of my internship.  Approximately, not counting weekends or holidays, 61 days left of my internship.  Don't get me wrong, I love my internship.  I love these kids.  I'm so thankful for all that I have learned, but I am so ready to be finished.  My aunt Maria said to me the other day, "This is a big and exciting year for you."  I realized she was right.  I will be finishing this internship, becoming a certified music therapist, and Lord willing finding an incredible music therapy job.  I am proclaiming it, this is going to be a awesome year.

Classes start Wednesday.  Tomorrow is a workday.  I'm really not ready.  Wish me luck.

My New Year's Resolution is to keep up with my blog haha.